DENVER — The Mets, pummeled by injuries in the season’s first half, spoke with Yoenis Cespedes’ representation about a possible return of the lively outfielder, multiple industry sources told The Post.
The talks didn’t go very far because Cespedes, who impressed scouts with his appearance and performance at a Florida showcase in March, didn’t want to join the Mets or any other club on a minor league contract.
A guaranteed deal and roster spot simply wasn’t going to happen for Cespedes, 35, who played in just 127 of a possible 546 games for the entirety of his four-year, $110 million contract, which ran from 2017-20. Those earnings wound up being closer to $74 million, because of the considerable settlement from his 2019 wild-boar encounter (which resulted in a fractured right ankle), the 2020 schedule reduction and his opt-out from the ‘20 season after participating in just eight games.
That contract resulted from Cespedes’ first two seasons with the Mets, 2015 (he arrived after a July 31 trade with the Tigers) and 2016, when he played at an MVP level and helped the Mets reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons.
Outfielders Albert Almora, Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo and Kevin Pillar all spent time on the injured list between Opening Day and the All-Star break, and Johneshwy Fargas remains there.